Forces and Effects

What are the principles that biomechanics involve?

• Filament theory
• Length Tension relationship
• Force Velocity relationship

Tissue Mechanics

• optimal length for force development
• typically full range of motion

• less force you generate the quicker you can move
• the faster you move the less force you generate

The study of motion with considering the forces and torques

• The results indicate the weak and strong muscles and joints to improve performance

Measurement of muscle activity by the help of electro-sensors because the muscle contraction is casued by the neural command (Example: electric signal to the muscle)

• EMG tells which muscles are involved in or important ones in goal directed movements

• Sports Biomechanics
• Engineering Biomechanics
• Clincal Biomechanics
• Forensic Biomechanics
• Applied Biomechanics

Goal of Sports Biomechanics

• Improve Sports Performance
• Develope Effetive Training Methods
• Develope new or more effective sport equipment
• Prevent Injuries

Human Factor Engineering or Ergonomics

• Designing Prosthetic Device, Artificial organs
• Creating better designs for everyday life (Example: a more comfortable chair)

• Developing new surgical devices or techniques
• Designing new rehabilitation exercise or device

• Expert witness- investigates accidents or injuries from a mechanical perspective and determines the feasibility of them.

Use motion analysis system. Rebuild motions with computer graphics. 

• Annimation
• Video Games
• Film/ TV show

Explores relationships between physiology and psychology

• Effects of presence of other people on motor performance
• Effective coaching techniques
• psychological profiles of athletes
• methods for building confidence and increasing motivation

• research in real world settings
• mental training of athletes

• No clear personality differences between athletes and non-athletes
• No personality differences between athletes in different sports
• There ARE differences between successful and unsuccessful athletes but these are innate

Awareness of position of ones body

Cognitive Evaluation theory

• Intrisically motivated, more likely to continue sport
• Extrinsically motivated is more likely to stop

Helps us to understand what athletes see as the cause of their performance outcomes

For any given behavior change, a person can be classified according to their readiness and willingness to change (stage of change)

• What motivation techniques are successful depend on what stage of change the person is in.

Investigation of the principles of human movement

Three main sub-disciplines are:

• Motor Control
• Motor Development
• Motor Learning

The study of neurophysiological factors that affect human movement

• Interested in Brain Activity and the motor neurons
• Motor neurons communicate brain activity to the body

• Human brains are like computers- we have "pre-programmed" movement patterns that send signals to joints and muscles to move a certain way.
• There is an executive level controller for all movements
• Reaction time: as a task gets more complex, the slower the reaction time is.

Regularities of movement patterns

• are not represented in motor programs
• emerge naturally as the result of complex interactions among numerous connected elements

- There is no executive controller for movements

- The human motor system is capable of spontaneously adjusting itself

The study of changes in the motor behavior which reflect the:

• Interaction of maturation and the enviorment (nature vs. nurture)
• Changes across the lifespan
• the processes which underlie these changes
• the factors that affect these changes

• Study of the individual through both the progressive and regressive phases of development

infancy to childhood, adolescense to adulthood, novice to expert

adulthood to elderly, able bodied to injury, special populations

• task oriented
• the end result or outcome is the focus
• Quantitative Performance scores

• emphasizes the movement itself
• Quantative: form and function

Motor behavior research overlaps many interdisciplines in the study of movement

1. Examining the acquisition of movement skill as a child ages is an example of: Motor Learning
2. Examining underlying neurophysiological factors as they change with aging is an example of: Motor Control
3. Examining differences in joint angles across ages is an example of: Biomechanics

• The weight of the object
• Center of gravity height
• base of support
• relationship between line of gravity and base of support